adminLeicester City return to League One action next week when they host Peterborough United at the King Power Stadium, with Russell Martin’s side likely to feel confident heading into a meeting with one of the division’s most struggling teams.
The Foxes currently sit 14th in the table after seven matches, having collected four points from their previous two fixtures. Peterborough, who recently appointed former City player Robbie Savage as manager, are 23rd with only five points.
Following the dismissal of Luke Williams, Posh have managed just two points from a possible 15 across their last five matches, meaning Leicester should, on paper, be expected to come away with a comfortable victory. However, many around City will know that things are rarely that straightforward.
Martin’s side will take part in a behind-closed-doors friendly before travelling to Stevenage in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday evening. The cup tie will provide players with another chance to strengthen their claims for a starting berth against Peterborough once City’s international players return.
One area that will demand plenty of consideration from Martin and his coaching staff is centre-back. Wout Faes’ departure this week guarantees at least one alteration to the defence that began the match at Barnsley last month, while Ilari Kangasniemi impressed for Finland Under-21s and is still waiting for his opportunity.
In central midfield, though, Leicester possess considerable strength in reserve, creating further selection headaches. The position is arguably the side’s deepest area and, in a team averaging 68% possession and 533.0 accurate passes per match, it is crucial to Martin’s preferred style of football.
Summer arrival John Lundstram has begun the last two league fixtures and has made an immediate impact. Having been part of the Hull City squad that secured promotion to the Premier League, the 32-year-old has already demonstrated his value as a composed and organised presence, something Martin’s team was missing during the opening stages of the campaign.
Louis Page and Sammy Braybrooke have started the previous five matches together and have provided a reliable balance. Page’s introduction at Ipswich Town prompted plenty of questions over why Oliver Skipp had been selected ahead of him earlier in the season, with the 18-year-old performing at a level well beyond what might normally be expected in League One.
At times, Braybrooke has been City’s standout midfielder, with his defensive work, ability to progress the ball and attacking contribution providing qualities the team lacked last season. Nevertheless, he found things difficult in the matches against Stockport County and Barnsley.
In the 22-year-old’s defence, most of his career has been spent operating as the deeper midfielder, while his new role under Martin differs from what he has previously been accustomed to. However, there have been occasions when his positioning has frustrated the City boss, while his understanding of the defensive duties without the ball has also been questioned.
Will Smallbone’s arrival this week has given Martin another high-quality midfield option. The Irishman has agreed a three-year contract at the King Power Stadium and has already worked with his new teammates, although his fitness is not expected to be close to the required level to start matches immediately – his last 90-minute appearance came almost 12 months ago.
A major question following Smallbone’s arrival is now how Martin will structure his midfield. When Conor Chaplin is back to full fitness, it will provide another tactical option for the City manager, with the former Ipswich Town player expected to operate on the right side of the midfield three as a second striker.
From a statistical perspective, Page is Leicester’s “undroppable”. Across his six League One appearances, including the match where he supplied three assists at Stockport, the teenager has recorded an average FotMob rating of 7.24, the best of any City player – Braybrooke follows with 7.18.
It is possible that Lundstram, Smallbone and Page will form the midfield against Peterborough, giving Martin a combination that covers the major requirements. Experience, leadership, box-to-box ability, attacking threat, creativity, defensive reliability and endurance are all present within that trio.
Martin has repeatedly emphasised when discussing team selection that different opponents and matches call for different players and approaches. The test Peterborough provide next Saturday will therefore differ from the challenges posed by Doncaster and Bromley.
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